In the musical Wicked, composed by Stephen Schwartz and written by Winnie Holzman, the story of Oz's most infamous witches, Elphaba and Glinda, is told through a lens of empathy and understanding. The musical, based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, explores themes of prejudice, self-discovery, and the complexities of morality. One pivotal moment in the narrative is the song "We Can Build Her," which not only showcases the characters' relationships and development but also underlines the central theme of construction—both of identity and of societal perceptions.
The song's dark and atmospheric soundscapes, complete with haunting vocal harmonies and a pulsing electronic beat, serve to underscore the sense of unease and discomfort that comes with conforming to societal expectations. This sense of unease is a major theme in Wicked, where Elphaba's struggles with her own identity and purpose serve as a commentary on the ways in which patriarchy seeks to control and manipulate women. Wicked - Melanie Marie - We Can Build Her - Sce...
The radical potential of Wicked lies not in Elphaba’s villainy but in Glinda’s complicity. At the end, Glinda sings “No One Mourns the Wicked,” yet she knows the truth: wickedness was a role written for her friend. For Melanie Marie, the question becomes: can we refuse the construction? Can we reject being built? The cyborg feminist theorist Donna Haraway once argued that if we are all built, then we can also rebuild ourselves outside the master’s toolkit. “We Can Build Her” is a threat, but it is also an invitation. It dares us to reclaim the assembly line. In the musical Wicked, composed by Stephen Schwartz